Chapter 6 #2
‘We shouldn’t dwell on sad times,’ Maureen said, patting Ciara’s hand.
‘We have to try to move on. And now, here we are, going to that village to take possession of your inheritance from a woman we didn’t know.
Exciting and mysterious at the same time.
But I know that she was somehow part of your father’s life, even if that wasn’t a good memory for him. How do you feel about that?’
Ciara thought for a moment, examining her feelings.
‘Strange,’ she said. ‘But I feel it’s somehow my destiny.
I’m glad you’re coming with me,’ she added, feeling it was true.
What her mother had just told her had sent shivers up her spine.
Now she felt she needed the support of someone who would help her through whatever she would discover about the past – good or bad.
‘There’s no going back,’ she said. ‘Wicklow seems to be where I should go, even for a short time. If Martha Fitzgerald had something to do with my father’s past, I need to find out. ’
Maureen patted Ciara’s hand. ‘That’s my girl. I’m glad we’re doing this together.’
‘Me too,’ Ciara said. ‘I’ll let you know when we’re leaving and then I’ll pick you up.’
‘I can’t wait,’ Maureen said looking suddenly years younger than her age.
The following Saturday morning, they were off, the little van loaded with bedclothes, suitcases, lamps, kitchen equipment and all sorts of necessities – and a large dog.
Ciara had protested at the amount of stuff her mother wanted to bring, but Maureen had insisted they couldn’t live without any of the things, even for two weeks.
Brian was happy in the back seat and went to sleep as soon as they had driven up the slip road to the motorway.
Ciara had managed to get the two weeks off she had asked for.
Taking a fortnight was enough for now, even if she would need more time to organise the sale of the place.
She would decide what to do later, once she had got a feel for the village and the property.
She needed to spend a little time there before she could make plans.
Quitting her job and moving to Wicklow seemed too drastic.
She couldn’t imagine giving up her career in the civil service, even if she had felt it was going nowhere lately.
And her flat had been her haven since she left home and she found it hard to even think about giving it up for an uncertain future.
Selling that house she had suddenly inherited seemed the best option, even if she already felt a sense of loss about the adventures they might have had there.
‘I hope the stuff you ordered from IKEA will arrive this afternoon as promised,’ Maureen said, pulling Ciara out of her musings. ‘If not, we might have to find a B&B in the area until we get the bed and the mattresses.’
‘Fingers crossed,’ Ciara said as they came off the motorway and were driving down the Enniskerry road. ‘I also ordered a dog bed from Woodie’s for Brian. I hope that will come as well. He doesn’t like sleeping on the floor.’
‘You’ve spoiled him,’ Maureen said. ‘In my day, dogs slept in the shed or in the barn, not in the house. But he’s a good boy, though,’ she added. ‘I’ll give him that.’
Brian lifted his head and let out a little whine, wagging his tail.
‘He seems to know we’re talking about him,’ Maureen remarked.
‘He’s more intelligent than you give him credit for,’ Ciara said.
‘I suppose,’ Maureen said, not looking too convinced.
The road took them through Enniskerry and then up the steep road towards the mountains.
Maureen stopped chatting as they drove through the wild landscape lined with hedgerows and grassy banks.
‘Not much protection here,’ she muttered as she looked down the vertiginous mountainside.
‘But I have to say this is quite breathtaking. And look,’ she squealed, pointing at the sky. ‘A buzzard. How powerful he looks.’
‘Where?’ Ciara stopped the car and stuck her head out the window, spotting a majestic bird outlined against the blue sky, its wingspan lit up by the morning sun. It sat still in the air as if suspended, twisting its head this way and that. ‘It’s looking for prey,’ Ciara said. ‘How beautiful it is.’
‘This area is known for its birds of prey,’ Maureen remarked. ‘I’m looking forward to more birdwatching when we get to this village. Where on earth is it anyway? It’s seems very remote. Or are we lost?’ she added, looking worried.
‘We’ll be there soon,’ Ciara promised and restarted the car. ‘Please don’t distract me again or we’ll go off the road.’
‘I won’t,’ Maureen replied, staring straight ahead.
They were silent as they continued around a sharp bend and down a steep slope, then another bend.
Then the road widened and they could see the first houses in the distance and the spire of the two churches sticking up at the end of the main street.
‘Protestant and Catholic,’ Ciara explained.
‘Opposite each other. I think that Georgian house was the vicarage.’
As they drove down the main street, Ciara said, ‘Here we are. The house is in the middle of this row of buildings.’
Maureen looked around as they slowly made their way down the street. ‘It’s a little rundown,’ she remarked. ‘Most of these houses need a good lick of paint.’
‘And new roofs and windows, too,’ Ciara said. ‘I have a feeling this village was quite busy once. There are some old shops and even a pub, all closed down, sadly.’
‘It doesn’t have the infrastructure it needs to thrive,’ Maureen said. ‘I’d say the county council gave up on it years ago. How sad.’
‘Very sad,’ Ciara agreed as she pulled up in front of the house. ‘Here we are. My splendid inheritance.’
Maureen looked at the facade of the house with its peeling paint and cracked window frames without speaking. ‘Well, it’s not much to look at now, but if it gets a little love and attention it might improve,’ she said.
‘And a large amount of money,’ Ciara filled in.
‘Yes, I suppose,’ Maureen said as she started to get out of the van. ‘Let’s have look at it.’
‘The inside is better than the outside,’ Ciara said, joining her mother on the pavement. She opened the passenger door. ‘Out you come, Brian. You need to stretch your legs after the long drive.’
Brian scrambled out of the van and stood at the entrance door to the shop, pressing his nose against it, growling softly.
‘What’s the matter with him?’ Maureen asked. ‘I thought you said he liked the place.’
‘He did,’ Ciara said, puzzled by the dog’s behaviour. ‘But now he seems worried.’
‘Open the door and we’ll see what he’ll do,’ Maureen suggested.
Ciara found the keys and unlocked the door. ‘This is the way into the shop,’ she said. ‘There is a door at the back of the shop that leads to a lobby and the stairs to the flat.’
‘Okay,’ Maureen said and led the way inside. ‘Is there electricity?’ she asked over her shoulder.
‘Yes,’ Ciara replied. ‘The account was already set up when I took possession. Flick the switch on the wall and we’ll have light.’
‘I can’t find it,’ Maureen muttered. ‘Oh,’ she said a moment later. ‘Here it is.’ There was a click and then the little shop was lit by the weak bulb in the ceiling.
Ciara followed her mother inside, pulling at Brian to follow. But he hung back, whining. Then she saw the inside of the shop and gasped.
‘What’s wrong?’ Maureen asked.
‘The books,’ Ciara whispered. ‘They’re not the way they were when I left.’